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The futures Orange

This is an important moment for the Liberal Democrats, who begin their annual conference in Blackpool today. Charles Kennedy, in his seventh conference as leader, has the task of re-enthusing his party members after a general election that failed to live up to their heightened expectations. The party’s boasts during the last parliament that it had replaced the Conservatives as the main opposition did not come to pass. Its election showing with 22% of the vote and 62 seats (compared with the 52 it won in 2001) was respectable but not outstanding. It failed to capitalise on the government’s unpopularity and its own stance in opposing the war with Iraq, even suffering a net loss of two seats to the Tories.

This autumn the Lib Dems have another opportunity. The Tories have a caretaker in charge and are effectively leaderless. The party is also rudderless; so distinct are the policy